Laverne Cox Makes History with All‑Trans Team on Celebrity Family Feud

August 1, 2025
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On July 31, 2025, Celebrity Family Feud made television history when Laverne Cox captained the show’s first-ever all-trans celebrity team, named Team Laverne, on ABC’s prime-time lineup.

Joined by trans icons TS Madison, Mila Jam, Joslyn De Freece, and Miss Peppermint, Team Laverne competed for a $25,000 prize designated for the TS Madison Starter House, a transitional living initiative supporting Black trans women leaving incarceration or sex work, in partnership with NAESM’s Sisterhood Alliance for Freedom and Equality.

In a lively face-off, the group played against DJ Diplo’s celebrity team, all under the watchful, and often humorous, eye of host Steve Harvey. Their participation marked not only a milestone in representation but also a tangible act of solidarity: the prize money raised awareness and provided concrete support for trans communities.

Why This Episode Matters

Representation in Action
Trans visibility on mainstream television continues to be rare, but Team Laverne’s appearance moved beyond tokenism. Each member is a prominent advocate and performer in their own right:

  • Laverne Cox, Emmy-nominated actress and activist known for Orange Is the New Black, has pioneered trans representation in acting.
  • TS Madison is a celebrated media personality and advocate for Black trans communities.
  • Mila Jam, Joslyn De Freece, and Miss Peppermint are each successful performers with passionate followings.

Visible Progress, and Purpose
Having the all-trans cast compete for a charity that specifically supports Black trans women highlights the intersection of visibility, agency, and impact. As noted in coverage, this episode isn’t just symbolic, it’s substantive.

Memorable Moments & Themes

Although the episode followed Celebrity Family Feud’s usual format, survey-based questions, quick buzzer matches, and light-hearted banter, Team Laverne brought personality and purpose to the game. Their chemistry, charisma, and undeniable presence earned top responses and genuine laughs. ABC’s own promotional clips emphasized that Team Laverne came “to have fun and look good doing it”.

By the end of the night, their presence felt both celebratory and revolutionary.

Looking Ahead

This milestone appearance adds another significant chapter to Cox’s legacy of firsts:

  • First openly transgender actress nominated for a Primetime Emmy
  • First trans woman of colour in a leading role on mainstream scripted TV
  • First trans person on the cover of Time
  • First transgender Wax figure at Madame Tussauds

Team Laverne’s game show appearance may seem celebratory, but, as Cox’s career often demonstrates, performance and purpose go hand in hand.

By turning the game board itself into a platform for advocacy, Team Laverne’s Celebrity Family Feud debut redefined what representation can look like: bold, entertaining, and deeply consequential. If you’d like, I can provide coverage on follow-up media reactions, deeper profiles of the team members, or broader context on trans representation in entertainment.

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